North Greenville University

The information on this page was last updated 2/20/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

North Greenville University is a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and recognized as one of the most notable conservative Christian universities in the Southeast and even the nation.


Contact information

Mailing address:
North Greenville University
PO Box 1892
Tigerville, SC 29688

Website: ngu.edu

Phone: 864-977-7000

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 570314406

CEO/President: Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.

Chairman: Bill Tyler

Board size: 25

Founder:

Ruling year: 1946

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 05/31

Member of ECFA: Yes

Member of ECFA since: 2021


Purpose

At the heart of NGU is a Christ-centered community of genuine, caring faculty and staff members who are committed to providing every student with not only a quality educational experience, but also hands-on opportunities for spiritual growth and service on campus, in the local community, and around the world. The university strives to prepare students to become better, contributing members of society by educating the whole person through an integration of academic discipline, a Christian lifestyle, and an enriched cultural experience while offering students the best opportunities for spiritual growth, academic training, and Christian service. Christ must be the center of the campus for the purpose of Christian education and Christian character-building. North Greenville University offers a quality education in a biblically sound, Christ-centered environment.


Mission statement

North Greenville University exists to glorify God by cultivating graduates who are equipped to serve as transformational leaders for church and society.


Statement of faith

These core values will combine to equip transformational leaders for church and society and give us a solid foundation for our work. More than anything they help us understand that we are a part of something significant.

CHRIST-CENTERED
CHRIST: Lord, Savior, Fully God and Fully Man
CENTERED: Having a specified subject as the most important or focal element
NGU exists to build transformational leaders for church and society. If Christ is not the center, our university has no true reason to exist.

BIBLICALLY FAITHFUL
BIBLE: inspired by God, profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness
FAITHFUL: true to the facts, to a standard


NGU is a contemporary representation of the unchanging truths of God's unchanging Word. Our university aligns itself with biblical standards and authority.

ACADEMICALLY EXCELLENT
ACADEMIC: based on formal study
EXCELLENT: eminently good

NGU offers programs of learning designed to wholly honor God with our minds, producing graduates who think critically and communicate clearly.

MISSION-FOCUSED
MISSION: a specific task a group is charged to pursue
FOCUS: adjustment for distinct vision
NGU has a distinct mission to glorify God by cultivating graduates who are equipped to serve as transformational leaders for church and society.

Donor confidence score

Show donor confidence score details

To understand our donor confidence score, click here.


Transparency grade

C

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Colleges/Universities

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating420 of 143539 of 155
Fund acquisition rating965 of 1435117 of 155
Resource allocation rating302 of 143516 of 155
Asset utilization rating403 of 143644 of 155

According to the organization's Form 990, it received $239,332 in government grants in 2025.

To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.


Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
13%23%17%8%7%13%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
2%2%2%2%1%1%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
15%8%10%20%19%9%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
2%2%2%2%1%1%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
85%92%90%80%81%91%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
84%90%90%89%90%90%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
96%106%103%99%97%102%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
81%95%92%88%87%92%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
4%-6%-3%1%3%-2%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
2%-4%-2%1%2%-1%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
14%9%8%9%9%9%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
0.520.640.590.590.580.53
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
2.733.893.744.323.253.12
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.452.502.222.571.881.64
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
8.183.323.632.904.574.42
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.120.300.280.350.220.23
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
6.993.353.923.064.995.65
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
20%8%8%8%7%8%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
10%0%0%0%0%0%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
148%143%156%154%161%175%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20252024202320222021
Cash$2,347,235$6,578,329$5,759,672$11,559,016$12,221,365
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$3,041,797$2,184,382$1,321,149$538,012$679,315
Short-term investments$25,129,993$23,718,265$20,901,117$24,506,709$26,488,386
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$30,519,025$32,480,976$27,981,938$36,603,737$39,389,066
Long-term investments$12,972,633$13,144,710$14,658,049$14,811,860$17,178,221
Fixed assets$73,106,192$73,457,561$67,435,638$65,420,627$64,113,800
Other long-term assets$2,086,590$2,399,798$10,751,880$2,231,583$2,248,788
Total long-term assets$88,165,415$89,002,069$92,845,567$82,464,070$83,540,809
Total assets$118,684,440$121,483,045$120,827,505$119,067,807$122,929,875
 
Liabilities20252024202320222021
Payables and accrued expenses$6,178,923$4,980,153$5,613,893$3,885,060$4,560,400
Other current liabilities$3,010,827$3,967,339$4,046,326$4,120,163$4,356,801
Total current liabilities$9,189,750$8,947,492$9,660,219$8,005,223$8,917,201
Debt$53,721$60,261$109,618$165,353$225,193
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$385,876$405,955$375,624$459,096$587,453
Total long-term liabilities$439,597$466,216$485,242$624,449$812,646
Total liabilities$9,629,347$9,413,708$10,145,461$8,629,672$9,729,847
 
Net assets20252024202320222021
Without donor restrictions$66,065,648$71,535,067$69,807,085$69,868,000$70,187,359
With donor restrictions$42,989,445$40,534,270$40,874,959$40,570,135$43,012,669
Net assets$109,055,093$112,069,337$110,682,044$110,438,135$113,200,028
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20252024202320222021
Total contributions$5,486,731$7,181,292$14,695,939$13,285,858$5,542,315
Program service revenue$63,482,491$60,452,760$57,418,455$55,147,684$54,780,441
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$2,281,730$1,337,469$751,033$2,371,712$3,014,706
Other revenue$1,164,253$1,201,056$55,919$113,723$152,825
Total other revenue$66,928,474$62,991,285$58,225,407$57,633,119$57,947,972
Total revenue$72,415,205$70,172,577$72,921,346$70,918,977$63,490,287
 
Expenses20252024202320222021
Program services$68,454,395$64,753,844$63,884,569$61,748,624$58,240,984
Management and general$6,678,482$6,101,200$6,765,462$6,166,441$5,744,189
Fundraising$1,267,953$1,186,292$1,198,296$872,993$740,174
Total expenses$76,400,830$72,041,336$71,848,327$68,788,058$64,725,347
 
Change in net assets20252024202320222021
Surplus (deficit)($3,985,625)($1,868,759)$1,073,019$2,130,919($1,235,060)
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets($3,985,625)($1,868,759)$1,073,019$2,130,919($1,235,060)

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Dr Gene FantPresident$417,419
Mr Rich GrimmExecutive VP$267,861
Dr Jordan HairrDean of the College of Allied Health$191,764
Dr Hunter BakerProvost$191,521
Mr Michael StowellSenior VP of Finance (part Year)$172,195
Mrs Kaye RickmanProgram Director For Pa Medicine$163,791
Dr John DuncanDean of the College of Business$159,970
Dr Martin JonesAssociate Dean College of Business$150,371
Dr Stephen CrouseSenior Campus Pastor$147,473
Mr Mark ReevesSenior VP of Finance$16,050

Compensation data as of: 5/31/2025


Response from ministry

No response has been provided by this ministry.


The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/20/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

It was a momentous decision they made on Oct. 14, 1891. At the fourth annual meeting of the North Greenville Baptist Association, members appointed a committee of nine men to determine the best location for establishing a new high school in the northern region of Greenville County in South Carolina.

The recommendation to create the committee came in response to a suggestion made at an earlier associational meeting by John Ballenger of the Tigerville community. He asked that the association consider the possibility of providing educational opportunities for mountain area children, as there were only three high schools in the entire county at that time.

The work of the committee led to the establishment of what would later become North Greenville University. Benjamin F. Neves offered 10 acres of beautiful, rolling land - located midway between Glassy Mountain to the north and Paris Mountain to the south. By 1892, the first building was completed and ready for occupancy, and North Greenville High School began with the arrival of the first students on Jan. 16, 1893.

The State of South Carolina chartered the institution as North Greenville High School in 1904. The next year, the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention assumed control of the school as part of its Mountain Mission School System, a relationship that lasted for 25 years. In 1929, the North Greenville Baptist Association again accepted responsibility for the school, which had been renamed North Greenville Baptist Academy in 1915.

In 1934, the academy amended its charter to include a junior college in addition to the existing high school. Fifteen years later, the growing institution was transferred from the founding association to the direct control of the General Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

In 1957, North Greenville College received accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a two-year liberal arts college, at the same time discontinuing its high school courses. Previously, an amendment to the charter in 1950 changed the name to North Greenville Junior College, and the word "Junior" was deleted from the title of the college in 1972.

In 1991, North Greenville College reaffirmed its basic commitment to quality education, applying to the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer bachelor's degrees in Christian Studies and church music. The school was given candidacy status the following summer, with its initial cohort of upperclassmen enrolling in the fall semester of 1992. Level II accreditation was granted in June 1994. Then, in 1997, the college's Teacher Education Program received approval from the South Carolina Department of Education.

The college continued to grow and add new bachelor's degree programs over the years, then earned status as a university in 2006. At that time, North Greenville University also began granting master's degrees, specifically the Master of Christian Ministry (MCM) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Today, North Greenville University awards more than 50 undergraduate, online undergraduate, and graduate degrees - including both master's and doctorate degrees.

In the course of the school's existence, North Greenville has benefited from a stabilized enrollment, strengthened academic program, and improved campus facilities. Throughout this period of development, however, the fundamental purpose for North Greenville has remained constant: to provide a quality educational experience in the context of genuine, Christ-centered commitment.


Program accomplishments


Needs